Gem Cutting FAQ
Our gem cutting FAQ covers some common questions from novice faceters. Topics include how to get started, how to clean gemstones, and dopping issues.…
Online Education
For Gem Enthusiasts
- 20,048 Members
- 1,713 Articles
- 261 Gemology Businesses
Ways to Start Your Gemology Education
Join Our Thriving Community
1,713
Articles
20,048
Members
261
Directory Listings
The world's best gem articles, published weekly.
Most Recent Articles
Interest in Lab Grown Diamonds is Surging, Shows No Signs of Stopping
Recently, CNN spoke to independent diamond industry analyst Edahn Golan regarding the recent surge of lab grown diamonds. Golan revealed to CNN…
Seven Famous Emeralds and Their Stories
Some famous emeralds have amazing histories. These seven gems have gone through revolutions, shipwrecks, and thefts to become crown jewels and…
Mystery at Met Gala 2022: Did Emma Chamberlain Wear A Stolen Necklace?
May 17, 2022 Is this the Patiala Necklace? Cartier and Emma Chamberlain have not commented. Photo attribution: Getty Images…
Morganite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
A member of the beryl family, morganite shows a range of pink colors due to traces of manganese. Recently, this gemstone has seen an increase in popularity…
Fantasy Gem Designs: Cutting Techniques
Fantasy gem designs combine elements from faceted and cabbed stones as well as artistic embellishments. Learn the basics of this modern lapidary…
Emerald Jewelry Leads Spring 2022 Trends As Celebrity Engagements Leave Consumers Green with Envy
May 13, 2022 Photo attribution: Shutterstock/photo-world The birthstone of May, the verdant, green glow of emerald ushers in the start of spring…
Emerald Origins: History and Identification
Emeralds from different sources can vary in quality. Learn how to identify emerald origins by analyzing the optical and physical properties of…
Proustite Value, Price, and Jewelry Information
Proustite crystals have magnificent red colors and good brilliance. Although facetable, they’re too soft for jewelry use but highly desired…
Premium guides and must-read resources.
Recommended guides and resources
Gemstone Encyclopedia
Our Gemstone Encyclopedia has information on over 300 gemstones, from traditional and popular jewelry standards to collector’s stones that rarely appear for sale. Each entry has photos and detailed information about the gem’s properties. Entries for jewelry stones also have price guidelines and discussions of their most important value factors.
Emerald
Emerald has been synonymous with the color green since ancient times. A fine emerald is a truly breathtaking sight, and this member of the beryl family deserves its placement among the traditional “Big Four” gems along with diamond, ruby, and sapphire.
Onyx
For millennia, artisans have carved intricate cameos from black-and-white onyx. Solid black onyxes, faceted or cabbed, are also popular jewelry stones.
Sapphire
Few gems have held our attention over millennia as well as sapphire. The pure blue colors and excellent durability of this gem-quality member of the corundum family make for an exceptional gemstone. However, not all sapphires are blue. The September birthstone comes in every color of the rainbow (except red).
Moissanite
When it comes to engagement ring stones, there’s a lot to consider. In the moissanite vs diamond debate, we’ll look at three main factors: beauty, durability, and price.
February Birthstone
Thanks to its beauty and relative abundance, the February birthstone, amethyst, is used in all types of jewelry: from the mass market to the finest custom couture pieces.
Diamond Cuts
We’ve compiled information on average costs and sizes for different diamond cuts and shapes at different carat weights. Learn how the different fancy cuts compare, and the pros and cons of different diamond cuts.
Moldavite
An olive to bottle-green natural glass, moldavite is a rare material popular with collectors of unusual gems as well as those interested in its formation from a meteorite impact.
January Birthstone
Although many associate January's birthstone, garnet, with the color red, they can come in a variety of colors including red, yellow, orange, green and even blue.
IGS Become Member